Press Release

Film fest to showcase top Native actors, films and filmmakers July 15

Release Date: July 05, 2017

by Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office

Photo by: Mike McKee

SULPHUR, Oka. – Acclaimed Native American actors Wes Studi and Martin Sensmeier along with award-winning director Chris Eyre are among featured participants at the third annual Holba’ Pisachi’ Native Film Festival. The festival is 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 15, in the Anoli’ Theater at the Chickasaw Cultural Center.

Studi, Sensmeier, filmmaker Kyle Bell and actor John Gibbs will take part in a panel moderated by Eyre revolving around the festival theme “Tour de Force in Native Cinema: We are One.”

Eyre is a director and producer best known for the films “Smoke Signals” and “Edge of America.” His many awards include an Emmy and the Director's Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement.

Studi has acted in featured films such as “Avatar,” “Dances with Wolves” and “The Last of the Mohicans.” He will also engage in a question-and-answer session about “Geronimo: An American Legend,” which will be screened during the festival.

Sensmeier, who landed a starring role alongside Denzel Washington in “The Magnificent Seven” plays the lead role of Montford Johnson in the upcoming Chickasaw Productions film “The Chickasaw Rancher.”

Gibbs, a professional stand-in actor in the film industry who has worked in Canada, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, will also present “Behind and In Front of the Camera.”

Bell is an independent filmmaker and owner of Redstick Film Productions. He will hold a question-and-answer session after a screening of his documentaries “Dig it if You Can” and “Defend the Sacred.”

A red carpet photo opportunity and autograph session with Studi and Sensmeier are part of the festival activities.

“The Magnificent Seven” will be screened at 6:30 p.m. followed by a question-and-answer session with Sensmeier.

Festival activities begin with Native film shorts by Angelo Baca’s (Navajo/Hopi) film students. Baca, a Ph.D. student at the New York University department of anthropology has produced several film projects and taught Native Studies and Indigenous media at Brown University.

The documentary “Island to Island” by filmmaker Jacqueline Hazen will also be featured. Hazen, a doctoral student at the New York University department of anthropology has experience in documentary filming, editing and production.

Stomp dance demonstrations by the Chickasaw Dance Troupe will be presented at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

“Shiloh,” for which director Mark Williams (Choctaw/Mississippi Choctaw) won Best Short in 2016 at the 13th Annual Red Nation Film Awards in Los Angeles, will also be screened at the festival.

HOLBA’ PISACHI’ NATIVE FILM FESTIVAL

The Holba’ Pisachi’ (Showing Pictures) Native Film Festival features a wide variety of Native films and filmmakers from across the U.S.

The festival theme is “Tour de Force in Native Cinema: We are One,” representing the many different backgrounds and locations of the Native guests that share the passion of digital storytelling.

Stories of indigenous people are showcased through film and the creative process used by the filmmakers and featured actors is highlighted.

The Holba’ Pisachi’ Native Film Festival is open to the public at no charge. Schedule is subject to change.

6:30 p.m. “The Magnificent Seven” followed by a question-and-answer session with Martin Sensmeier

NATIVE CREATIVITY DAY

Coinciding with the Holba’ Pisachi’ Native Film Festival is Native Creativity Day. Taking place in the Anoli’ Theater lobby, the July 15 event will include booths showcasing live music, beadwork, bow making, pottery, pastel drawing, food demos and weaving.

Native Creativity Day highlights the importance of Native culture and how significant creativity is to ensuring Native American heritage lives on.